Andrés Ospina is a young Colombian singer/songwriter who is releasing his debut album Buenaventura in observance of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22.

The album was produced with the help of Lee Curreri, who has produced songs for artists such as Natalie Cole, made famous by his starring role in the 1980 movie Fame and the television series under the same name.

Aside from being a talented artist, Ospina has a story and a message to share with the world. The singer/songwriter comes from a family of environmental activists who have fought for the cause for over 40 years. In 2004, Andres embarked with his father on the Natibo Expedition, which connected the Orinoco, the Amazon and the Paraná basins by navigating the rivers of the South American continent, and then by sea, exploring the entire Pacific Coast of South America from Chile to Colombia. Inspired by his travels and alarmed by the destruction of the ecosystems he witnessed first hand, Andres returned to California with his mind set on becoming an ambassador for the conservation effort.

Andres will be donating 20% of proceeds from album sales to the environmental non-profit Treepeople. Buenaventura is a digital-only release, and will be on iTunes after April 22, 2010.

The album is a mix of rock, cuban trova, reggae, blues and other caribbean sounds that carry the poetic lyrics that Andres writes. His songs are an ode to the idea of going back to the basics, they sing to the joy of having time to connect with nature and celebrate love.

For the release of Buenaventura, Ospina and his band will offer an outdoor concert for friends and media. The event will take place in TreePeople’s beautiful amphitheater at 7:30 p.m. April 22, 2010.